McCarthy says he predicted Santos downfall. ‘Something is going to come out about this guy.’

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

‘SOMETHING IS GOING TO COME OUT ABOUT THIS GUY’

This week, New York Republican Rep. George Santos may become the sixth member of Congress ever to be expelled. But to hear former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, tell it, he knew something was wrong from the very beginning.

In a Q&A session at The New York Times DealBook Summit Wednesday, McCarthy admitted that he was opposed to funding Santos’ 2022 race and that he had tried to get someone else to run, but that Santos had already “locked down” the race, according to Deadline.

Deadline reports McCarthy told audience members that he had a conversation with Fox News’ Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer, and recalled telling them “within one year, something’s going to come out on this guy. I don’t know what it is, but it is just my gut feeling.’”

Sure enough, something came out.

Santos faces multiple felony indictments on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, making false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft and credit card fried. Santos is alleged to have used campaign funds to personally enrich himself, and to have fabricated vast swaths of his life story.

McCarthy defended his decision not to call for Santos’ immediate ouster when news came out about the allegations, citing the need for due process, Deadline reports.

MATHIS WON’T SEEK FINAL TERM

Five-term Assemblyman Devon Mathis, R-Visalia, announced this week that he won’t be seeking a sixth, and final, term.

Instead, Mathis, who has been in office since 2014, will retire at the end of his term in 2024 to spend more time with his family. But he left open the possibility of future endeavors.

“Once my term ends, I look forward to working with district stakeholders on projects that will benefit the Valley. I will release more information as time progresses,” he said in a statement.

A 12-year Army National Guard veteran who was wounded by an improvised explosive device while on tour in Iraq, Mathis served his Republican caucus as both whip and chair of caucus operations, according to a statement from his office.

“As the Assemblyman of a very overlooked area, I have spent my tenure working to get the much-needed resources to people, families, and communities I represent,” he said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“In this volatile time after the overturning of Roe v Wade by extremist judges, California will continue to support women in California and across the country.”

- California Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a statement announcing a $20 million investment in expanding the reproductive health care workforce in the state.

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